Automobile starting mechanism.



J. H. SHAULL.

AUTOMOBILE STARTING MEGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 24, 1914.

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

Qlmmmk J. H. SHAULL.

AUTOMOBILE STARTING MBGHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.24, 1914. I

Patented Mar. 23, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wl/ T SSES: f@ M* i. omnia STATES PATENT oFFioiz.

HENRY SHAULL, OF CHARLOTTE, MICHIGAN.

' tion.

AUTOMOBILI-l STARTING MECHANISM...

Application filed march T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Janes H. Snam, re` sidin at Charlotte, in thelcounty of Eaton and tate of Michigan, lhave invented a new and Improved Automobile Starting Mechanism, of whichthe following is a specifica- My invention, which relates generally to means for automatically starting automobile engines, is more particularly directed t0 irpprovements inl that class of motor starters iii which the operation of imparting the rotary motion to the engine shaft is effected-by. means of a reciprocatable rack member.

Primarily my invention has for its object to provide a startin mechanism of the gen-r eral type mentione of a simple, compact, and inexpensiveconstruction, and in Whic the operation of applying the starting mec anism is under convenient control of the occupantl of the motorvehicle. Furthermore, my

invention has for its purpose to provide4 pneumatically actuated starting mechanism that includes a lspecial construction' and arrange ent of .controlling valves, all of which are arranged for being shifted to the open position by a single lever device and in which tlie.."c0perative lever and valve connections are such that the shifting of the Said lever operates to open some of the valves as the other valves are automatically 'shifted to a closed position.

My invention, embodies an improved construction vand novel arrangement of parts,

includinga cylinder or barrel that extends transversely. over .the engine Vvshaft,` a rack reciprocablyA Tmounted, within the cylinder and havinga piston head at its end and having itS rack face adapted for meshing with a gear on the engine shaft, a compressed air reservoirmounted uponfthe vehicle and' air leads from the said'tank to the opposite ends of the rack holding cylinder and controlling.:

valve devices for alternatelychanging -air under pressure into vthe opposite ends of the v said cylinder.` .v y

In its morefsubordinat'e `featunes'my in-` vention consistsfincertaindetails of ccnl struction and noveljco binationof parts, a l of which will Y 'KQ vafter fully described, specificallyf' ointed vout i'n the Vappended claims and i lustrated inthe accompanying drawings, infwhichs-f... a

Figure l is a pe'rspectiv'el view-of a portion of a motor vehicle, t

"e'inotor engine and my improved startinghniechanism` epe'ratively Specification of Letters Patent.

connected therewith.

valve devices and the single actuating Y'sgri'ng 13 and t rough thetop o Patented Mar'. 23, 1915'.

i914. seriainaaaaeas. Y

l Fig/2 .is densitadin'al section of. the' transversely 'loca l' cylinder 'showingthe fluid impelled piston at its normal position. Fig. Bis 'a detail sectional view of the air controlling .valve de'- vices, the various ones being at av normal or inoperative position. Fig. 4 is a face view of the pinion on the outer end of the motor shaft which co-acts with the piston rack shown in Fig. 2'. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic vertical sectionl of the several air controlling lever that co-acts therewith, the said valve evices being shown in position for leading the air under vhigh pressure into one end of the cylinder having the reciprocatable rackl B ig. 6 is a similar view of the valve devices, shown as shifted for leading the air under a low pressure into the other end of the said rack contained cylinderl i In carrying out my invention, 1 provide a cylinder or barrel 1,'that extends entirely Vacross the chassis of the motor vehicle,

above, but in close proximity to the engine shaft 2, the ends beingsecured upon the'said chassis as shown..v The cylinder 1 has an elongated slot 10 in its bottom and through the s aid slot extends the upper end of a co' gear'3 mounted on the engine shaft 2 ani, connected therewith by a pawl and ratchet device.

4 designates catably held within the cylinder 1 and which meshes with the gear 3 on the engine shaft as shown, and at'the opposite ends the rack member has attached piston heads 5-5 as best shown in Fig. 2, by reference to which a rack member that is recipro.-4

it will be observed the cylinder l also has designates a tankerrvoir thatjis suitably 1moiifntedonftle` vehicle frame from n which-,the air is led to the-'cylinder r ishifting the rack member 4 in the following VYriwlfnnfr.; 'A pipe Sflads fremi'the. tank to a valve chamber 1 1l which is located'a `valve 12 `that is norii'nally` held closed b yka whose stein 14. projeotsfiip theldimber .11., the latter,

havin an escape port :l'above 'that ischarges into a chamber connection with the airV ein, 'in c lieder 1, throiighw Pire 1.7v .iin'divhehis 'asoin communicationazthoii h mi.. lf?4 'and a check valye 19 withal reserve 'air tank '9F reservoir 2.0.. Chamber-1@ has@ Qiitlct" ico iio

1 and which has a long stem 23 that passes through the chamber 24 and extends through the end thereof. `Chamber 24 has an exhausting port 25 presently again referred to.

26 designates a third chamber provided with Y an air inlet 27 having a valve seat to accomthe lever 36 is rocked `the rack tol thereby modate a valve 28 held closed by the spring 28 and whose `stem 29 projects beyond the said chamber 26. The air inlet 27 of the chamber 26 connects with a pipe 30 that joins with the reserve air tank 20and the said chamber 26 has an air outlet 32, from which, through the pipe 33 the air is led to a Supplemental air tank 34 joined by the pipe 35'in the air inlet 7 .in the main cylinder 1. A

It should be stated that the main air tank or reservoir and the valve` devices that control the flow of the air to the opposite ends of the racks 'holding cylinder 1 may be mounted upon the vehicle chassis or framing to suit the particular characterof machine to which my starting mechanism is to be applied, but in every instance the valve devices are relatively so arranged and combined that the stems of the said three controlling valves project in like direction and l are held in` such alinement'whereby they are, adapted for being engaged by a single con? trolling rock lever 36 whichin'the drawings is shown sopivoted at 37, that when one end thereof is projected to engage with the stem of the valve 14 the other end is free of engagement with stems 23 and 29 of the two other valves, vsuch arrangement of parts being provided so that when the lever 36 is rocked to thel position shown in'Fig. 5, the valve 12 will be forced downto the open position tolet theA air vfrom the main tank pass to the rackcarrying cylinder, adjacent ing the gear, on the tated, and to thereby Aspin the motor, it being understood that the gearV on the engine shaft connects with and pawl mechanism, see Fig. 4. It' will be readily understood from the drawing, when to the position stated, its other end lifts from the stems of the two other valves which are now held closed by` their co-acting springs and the air pressure that passes from the main tank tothe cylinder 1. When the rack member is at the end of its forwardly forced stroke, the atmosv pheric pressure in the barrel or cylinder' 1 is compressed into the supplemental tank 34 which allows the piston rack to reach its extreme forward limit. After the action just explained is completed, the operator in the motor vehicle, through the actuating rod 38, swings the lever 36 in the opposite direction force the piston rack forwardly in .the vcylinderor barrel 1, caus engine shaft to be rothe shaft by a ratchet close ofi' the air from the main air tank;,and i fat the same time it opens the other two valves and permits the air from the'reserve tank 2O to iow out to the supplemental tank 34 having air under compression, fromwhioh the air now discharges 'against the rack piston, causing such pi'ston to return-to its first position. During this latter operation, the air in back of lthrough the port 6, through the pipe 17 into the chamber 16 through the now open port 22 into the chamber 24 and to atmosphere through the port 25. As the rack piston moves back to the first position to uncover the exhaust port 8, the air reserve pressure is-instantly reduced and the rack piston is held from being joined against the end of thel barrel, it being understood the valve devices in the system are now under a normal position and are not to be changed until it isagain desired to start the motor shaft, when all that is required is to shift the lever to open the valve 12. It shouldbe mentioned that since but little power is required for returning the piston rack member to its first position, as the turning gear on the engineshaft runs loose on the return movement of the said rack member, the pressure y held-up in the reserve tank 20 and the tank 34,mounted on one end of the barrel 1 is ciently return the rack back to itsrst posi? tion.

By reason of arranging the valve devices as shown the necessity of manually controlling the pressure from vthe main tank for moving the piston rack back is entirely avoided since the air pressure automatically adjusts` itself to bring it down to the low pressure needed for returning the said rack, the operator in the car is only required to shift a single lever the' latter being rocked one way for applying the high pressure air for spinning the motor shaft and tiller in another direction to permit the now-supplemental or low pressure air contained within the piping system outside of the main compression tanli for shifting the rack piston back. The operation of spinning the engine shaft may be repeated as desired by the operator in the car by simply moving the pistonV exhausts i the rod'that ioinscwith the valve shifting lever, which rod in ractice ma be joined with a hand controlpadjacent t -e sleeving column of the machine as shown.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection withl the accompanying drawings, the complete construction, the manner in which my starting mechanism is operated and the advantages thereof, will be readily apparent.

The arrangementand coperative connection of the several parts that constitute my complete mechanism are such, that the said mechanism may be readily applied upon any of the well known types ofmotor vehicles. The entire mechanism is under control of the driver of the machine, who through the shiftingof a sin le lever 'device applies the power' for actuatm the mechanism for spinning lthe motor sha and simultaneously stores up suilicient reserve energy from the initial energy that passes from the main air tank, for spinning the shaft, for returning the rack member and impelling gear, when the control lever is shifted to chan e the position of the valve devices in the air distributing system.

What I claim is 1. In a starting mechanism; a shaft, a gea' on the shaft, means for engaging the sal and s aft together in one direction and to release the shaft when turning the gear in the opposite direction, said means includin a sylinder, a piston in the said cylinder an a rack connection between the said piston and the gear; a main air reservoir, a reserve air reservoir, pipe connections between the two reservoirs and the cylinder, a normally closed valve for govermng the air passage from the main reservoir to the reserve reservoir and to the said c linder, the said valve when opened adapted7 to allow air to pass from the main reservoir to the reserve reservoir and to the cylinder to impel the piston therein under a hi h pressure and lto simultaneously supply t e reserve reservoir with air, a valve in the said connection between the said reserve reservoir and the cylinder for governing the passage of air from the said reserve reservolr to the said cylinder to impel the said piston on its return stroke, the said cylinder having an exhaust port.

2. In a starting mechanism, a shaft, a gear on the shaft, means for engaging the said gear and shaft to turn the said gear and shaft together i n one direction and to release the shaft when turning the gear in the op osite direction, said means including a cy inder, a piston in the said cylinder and a rack connection between the said piston" and the gear, a main air reservoir, a reserve air reservoir, pipe connections between the two reservoirs and the cylinder, a normally closed valve for governing the air passage ar and shaft to turn the said gear the said reserve reservoir to the said cylinder to impel the said piston on its return stroke, the said cylinder having an exhaust port, and means for normally holding the air pressure in the said reserve reservoir.

t 3. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a ear mounted thereon and ratchet and paw devices that connect the gear and the shaft, a cylinder, a piston within the cylinder having a rack portion that meshes with the shaft gear and is adapted, under a forward movement, to impel the gear with the shaft and under a reverse movement to turn the ear loosely upon the shaft, a compressed a1r supply, a pipe connection that joins the said supply with one end of the cylinder, a reserve air reservoir in communication with one end of y the cylinder and with the aforesaid pipe connection, a controlling valve that normally cuts out the air supply from the piston cylinder and the reserve air reservoir, a controlling valve mechanism operable under one adjustment for opening up communication with one end of the piston cylinder to lead a high air pressure against the iston to impel it to cause it to spinthe sha t and simultaneously lead a portion of the said hi h air pressure into the reserve air reservo1r, the said valve mechanism under another adjustment bein adjusted to exhaust air from the front o the piston that impelled it forwardly and simultaneously open up communication between the reserve or low air pressure reservoir and the piston cylinder to impel the piston back and to turn the gear loosely upon the shaft.

4. In a starting means for motor engines, the combination with the engine shaft and a gear thereon having a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, of a cylinder that extends transversely over the said shaft and has a slot through which the gear projects,

a piston within the cylinder having a racklll to shift it for/moving the engine shaft, and

simultaneously storing up the reserve lowl air pressure, for then shifting the said valve devices for cutting out the main' air tank and opening up the low air pressure to the cylinder for returning the piston rack to the first or normal position.

5. In an engine starter, the combination with .the starting motor, which includes a cylinder, a free piston in the cylinder, an operative connection between the said piston and the shaft of the engine to be started; of an air reservoir, means including a control valve for effecting the communication between the said reservoir and the said cylinder to move the said piston on its starting stroke, means for simultaneously storing up the air contents of the said cylinder on the other side of the said piston under a low pressure to return to the said piston when the pressure from the said reservoir is cut ofiI and other means for exhausting the first mentioned air charge from the cylinder to permit the return of the piston.

6. In an engine starter, the combination with the starting motor, which includes a cylinder, a free piston in the cylinder, an operative connection between the said piston and the shaft of the apparatus to be started; of an air reservoir, means including a control valve for effecting the communication between the said reservoir and the said cylmder to move the said piston on its starting stroke, means for simultaneously storing up the air contents of the said cylinder on the other s1de of the said piston under a low pressure to return to the said piston when the pressure fromfthe said reservoir is cut oi and other means for exhausting the first mentioned air charge from the cylinder to permit the return of the piston, a reserve reservoir and means controlled by the said first mentioned valve for receivin a portion of the initial charge from the rst mentioned reservoir and a control valve for admitting the air from the said reserve reservoir into said cylinder to augment the piston returning charge.

7. In a starting mechanism, the combination with a shaft, a gear thereon, a ratchet and pawl connection that connects the gear and the shaft, a starting motor that comprises a cylinder, a free piston Within the cylinder, an operative connection between the piston and the gear on the shaft; of an air reservoir, means for delivering air from the said reservoir under full pressure directly against one end of the aforesaid piston to impel the said piston toy spin the shaft, means for storing up a portion of the said delivered air, other means for subsequently delivering the said stored up portion of air against the other end of the said piston to restore the said piston, and further means for exhausting the high pressure air from the said cylinder during the return stroke of the piston.

JAS. HENRY sHAULL.

Witnesses:

Gnd W. Rownnr, Jas. B. CHURCH. 

